A Library Quest

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Stalking Jack the Ripper drew me in with it's lovely cover and the Halloween feel it gave me reading the description. I loved the story, the writing, and Audrey Rose the main character.

Audrey Rose is everything society does not want her to be, smart, studious, adventurous, and determined to forge her own path in a society dominated by males. Learning from her Uncle Audrey Rose enjoying doing autopsies on cadavers while advancing the art of science. With a father determined to keep her safe and ladylike Audrey Rose learning to sneak around to fulfill her need to learn science, this goes well until someone starts killing women and mutilating them. Shoved into the middle of the chaos of the Ripper killings Audrey Rose must use all her wits to survive.

I could not get enough of the story and I am eagerly hoping the library will receive the next book in the series, this one had a clear ending despite being part of a series. The writing was lovely, witty, and elegant while painting a clear picture of the world Audrey Rose lived in.

The Houdini Sector is the last book in the The Houdini Mysteries series. All the Harry Houdini mysteries seemed to start slow but they drew me and I could not put them down.

Determined to be successful as an escape artist Harry goes about pursuing someone who will hire him to entertain crowds with his daring acts. With the help of his brother Harry gets tangled up in proving that a seance is a fake. All goes well until one of the guests at the seance ends up dead. Confused and befuddled the two brothers work to figure out how and who committed the murder.

I will miss the Harry Houdini stories they were fun and I enjoyed Daniel Stashower's style of writing. While it seems no more Harry Houdini mysteries will happen I do plan on reading some other work by Daniel Stashower.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Since I felt like City of Glass ended the Mortal Instruments series I never bothered to pick up City of Fallen Angels until I started watching Shadow Hunters on Freeform.

I love the angle that was taken with Simon and how things started out with his problems, it felt like he got a bit under-shadowed in the previous books but had a chance to shine in City of Fallen Angels. I did sort of miss the Valentine influence since he had played such a massive role in the previous books however I never wanted to put the book down when my lunch break was over.

I don't have the fifth book but I do plan on ordering it from the library.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

United as One is the final book in the I am Number Four series. While I loved I am Number Four I felt the rest of the series was one let down after another but I did want to know the fate of the Garde so I finished the series.

John was the only character I really felt a connection with, I think the other Garde keeping their numbers and not names played a part in that role. Sadly as the series went on I felt less and less connected with the characters and just wanted to know the end. Then I was disappointed in the ending it had so much build up to the grand finale that I felt it was a let d own.

One day I may pursue the novellas but not right now I need a break from the characters.

Monday, September 4, 2017

The Fate of Tenis the sixth book in the I am Number Four series and it took me awhile to read. I was pretty bored with it in parts.

Ella is still fighting to get away from the Mogs and learning to embrace her telepathy. Struggling to hold on to her humanity as she works at escaping Ella is given a special gift that allows her to learn the real story between the Guarde and Mogs.

Determined to save humanity John works tirelessly with the other Guarde to fight against the Mogs. Overwhelmed by the odds they fear all is lost when a sacred Lorite temple is revealed. Splitting up half the group goes to Mexico to investigate this temple and the other half race to New York where the Mogs intend to attack.

The writing still throws me at times and I do have to think which character is talking at the start of new chapters. Since they are all told from first person point of view it can take me awhile to figure it out. Since I am almost done with the series I do intend to finish it.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

The Revenge of Seven is the fifth book in I am Number Four series. So far this has been my least favorite book of the series.

Marina is full of desire to take revenge on Five who betrayed the Guarde resulting in the death of one of them. Full of anger Marina forms a new legacy the ability to use moisture to make ice and she intends to use this deadly legacy to hunt down Five.

John is struggling to know what to do and forcing himself to the trust Adam, the Mog that was experiment on with a dead guardes body. Unsure on what to do John ignores the advice of the other guarde and agrees to bring Adam into the circle.

Still separated the Guarde all work at fulfilling different tasks. I still struggle with figuring out whose point of view is happening quickly, this has never happened to me with any other book series so it is bothering me a lot. Other then that I just found this book filler until the last couple of chapters and unlike the other books in the series this one just flat out stopped. No smooth ending it just was wham I am done. I am too invested in the series to stop with it so I will continue on with The Fate of Ten.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

I loved the opening of the story, a middle aged woman enjoying a meal who is suddenly harassed by a writer wanting to share her story with the world. Not about to be written about Lixie tells the writer where to go every way possible including unladylike ways. I waited the whole story for things to go back that way but they never did. I also was not sure what the story was really about it seemed to have a really weak plot line overall. The writing at the start was hilarious and smoothly perfect. I did want it to go back to that and while I never struggled with the writing style I craved more flair.